Double-header is a test of logistics for the Robins’ boss who wants his riders focused

SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter says that the biggest problem he will have in today’s double-header with Poole Pirates is making sure that his young riders have managed to drag themselves out of bed in time.

The Abbey Stadium side tackle Poole in the first of the two meets at 11am, meaning that they are going to need to be on the road by 8am at the latest in order to make sure they arrive in time to get themselves ready for the Elite League clash, with the aggregate over the two meets doubling as the decider for the postponed Elite Shield contest.

And with the return leg in Blunsdon starting at 8pm it is going to be an extremely long day for all involved.

“A couple of the boys might be a little grumpy on the day because they have had to get up so early,” Rossiter joked. “These youngsters don’t like getting up in the mornings, they like to stay in bed or play on their PlayStations or whatever they have.

“But now you have just got to treat this as you would any other meet.”

After the meet at Wimborne Road, the teams will then head back up the M4 to face each at the Abbey Stadium later in the evening.

However, Robins’ young reserve rider Steve Worrall will not be travelling in the same direction as he catches a flight to Scotland to ride for Edinburgh Monarchs in the Premier League.

With Worrall heading north of the border, Kent Kings’ Benji Compton will join up with the Robins when they arrive back at the Abbey Stadium.

“It is great that we will be having Stevie for the first meet,” Rossiter said.

“He has been pivotal for us so far this season.

“He is having a great run at the moment and hopefully that is going to continue.”

Rossiter also revealed that new reserve Dan Greenwood has been unable to get some track time at Blunsdon this week.

The youngster said after the Belle Vue Aces victory that he was hoping to spend some time in Swindon getting used to the Abbey Stadium track after a disappointing debut.

Rossiter added: “Dan has been at Wolverhampton this week racing the in Under 21s event so we haven’t been able to get him out at Swindon.

“But he has had one meet there now, he did a few laps after the Belle Vue match and I’m sure that he will be fine.”